Joan McEachern

Joan McEachern... speaks English... earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan... earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University...

honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009... honoured by the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia... honoured in 2010 as part of Alberta Soccer’s Centennial Recognition of the Top Female Players... she was part of the first Canadian team to play at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (Sweden 1995), recognised as a Canada Soccer Team of Distinction...

represented Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Sweden 1995... won three Concacaf medals with Canada (1991 silver, 1993 bronze, 1994 silver)... represented Canada at the World Invitational Women’s Tournament (Chinese Cup 1987) and International Women’s Football Tournament (China 1988)... in the program’s early years, was often part of Canada’s “Marvelous Midfield” (Joan McEachern on the right, Connie Cant and Geri Donnelly in the centre, Annie Caron on the left)... career 31 international “A” appearances across nine years from 1987 to 1995 with Canada Soccer's Women's National Team… when she left international football, she ranked sixth in international “A” appearances with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team...

club career in Canada... a four-time Canada Soccer National Championships winner (Jubilee Trophy in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994)... Most Valuable Player at Canada Soccer’s National Championships (1985)... a runner-up at Canada Soccer’s Women’s All-Star Championship winner (1987)...

attended the Final Match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 in Vancouver...

in the summer of 1985, suffered a broken collarbone in an Edmonton Angels tour of Europe (she continued to play through October)... suffered a torn ankle ligaments in the 1991 BC provincial finals... suffered a broken leg in the 1994 BC provincial finals ("Ì opted for surgery, piecing my leg together with a plate and pins")...

said McEachern in 1994 of her return from injury, "I always thought that I wasn't a mentally strong player, but that's not the case. You can't lose sight of your goal. A lot of people used Silken Laumann as an example and she was an inspiration to me"... said coach Vince Donnelly in 1994, “she is very quick and has tremendous pace; she has a great shot, a killer instinct in front of the net, and a knack for scoring key goals. Nine times out of 10 when she goes in on net, she scores”... wrote Sylvie Béliveau in 1995, “one of the top players during the select camp physically strong (speed and fitness), she looked sharp technically and was effective tactically sticking to her job”...

said McEachern in 2008, with her club she "was an offensive player and if a goal was needed to be scored, I would be in the mix; with the national program it was different (because) we had the Hoopers and Burtinis, so I was put in the outside midfield where I did a lot of crossing. I did my job, was very responsible defensively, and did what I was asked to do"...

said Annie Caron in 2021, “Joan was strong physically, she was a bulldozer. She was skilled, she had instinct and she could provide help with the defence much faster than the rest of us could”... said Suzanne Muir in 2021, “Joan was just so welcoming to people coming in